Locking mechanism



LOCKING MECHANISM Filed Feb. 28, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 J1 L L g- 27, 1940- F. E. SPRADLING 2,212,957

I LOCKING MECHANISM 2 SheetsSheet 2 Filed Feb. 28, 1940 Patented Aug. 27, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT QFMQE LOCKING MECHANISM Fred E. Spradling, St. Louis, Mo.

Application February 28, 1940, Serial No. 321,203

8 Claims. (Cl. 29292) This invention relates to locking mechanisms of the kind used on outwardly swinging doors for preventing unauthorized ingress but wherein the locking mechanism may be immediately released for emergency exit by operation of a manipulator. such as a depressible panic bar on the interior side of the door- The invention has for its principal objects to provide for positively locking the panic bar in look releasing position and for releasably securing said bar in the position assumed thereby in the engaged position of the lock; to provide for the ready attachment of the device to the door and to panic bars of different types; and to provide for simplicity and cheapness of construction and compactness of design. The invention consists in the panic bar locking device and in the construction, combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter shown and described.

In the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification and wherein like symbols refer to like parts wherever they occur,

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary interior side View of a swinging door provided with a lock and an emergency or panic bar release therefor, showing the panic bar in look releasing position and the door equipped with a device embodying my invention for positively locking said bar in such position,

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing the position of the parts in the engaged position of the lock,

Fig. 3 is an enlarged view similar to Fig. l, with the panic bar locking device shown in vertical section on the line 33 in Fig. 4,

Figs. 4 and 5 are enlarged views of the door with the parts shown in the positions indicated in Figs. 1 and 2, respectively,

Fig. 5 is a vertical section on the line 66 in Fig. 3,

Fig. 7 is a side elevation of the panic bar receiving element of the panic bar locking device,

Fig. 8 is an edge view of the element shown in Fig. 8,

Fig. 9 is a side elevation of the door supported elements of the panic bar locking device; and

Fig. 10 is an edge view of the elements shown in Fig. 9.

In the accompanying drawing my invention is illustrated in connection with the emergency or panic operating means forthe locking mechanism of a swinging door. Such locking mechanism usually comprises a mortise type lock l mounted on the door 2 flush with the free edge thereof and including a spring projected latching bolt 3 adapted toengage a suitable keeper 4 provided therefore in the adjacent door jamb or other member 5. In accordance with common practice, the latch bolt 3 is retracted from the keeper 4 by emergency means, such as a panic bar 5 that extends transversely of. the door on the interior side thereof with its ends rigidly secured to and supported by the free ends of arms 1 that are supported for vertical swinging movement in suitable plates 8 secured flatwise to said side of said door. One of these panic bar supporting arms is located adjacent to the look I and has a finger 9 at its pivoted end adapted, when the panic bar is swung downwardly, to lift a member l8 of the lock mechanism (not shown) and thereby withdraw the latch bolt 3 from the keeper 5. The above described locking mechanism and emergency or panic release therefor are well known and it is considered unnecessary to illustrate them in detaiL' In accordance with the present invention, a device is provided for positively locking the panic bar 6 in look releasing position and for releasably securing said bar in the position assumed thereby when the latch bolt 3 automatically projected into engagement with the keeper l. Said device comp-rises a link It pivotally connected at one endby means of a horizontal pivot l2 to a suitable supporting bracket or anchor member l3 that is secured fiatwise to the interior face of the door 2 by means of screws or other fasteners M. The other or free end of the link I! is connected by means of a horizontal pivot bolt-l5 to one end of a second link it whose opposite end has-an opening ll extending horizontally therethrough parallel to the axes of the pivots l2 and 15 adapted to snugly receive the panic bar 6. A portion of the panic bar receiving opening il in the link It is defined by a hinged section l8 which, when opened, permits said bar to be received in said opening and, when closed, serves to retain said bar in said opening. The hinged section I8 is secured at oneend to the link. it by a horizontal pivot pin is held in closed position by means of "a SCIGW'ZU which extends through a hole provided therefor in the free endof said section and is threaded into a registering hole provided therefor in said link.

The pivot bolt end of the link It has a circular series of holes 2i extending horizontally therethrough concentric to the pivot bolt l5; and the corresponding end of the link I l is provided with a'single horizontal hole 2 adapted to be brought into register with anyone of the circular series of holes 2| in the link [6 when the two links are rotated relative to each other about the axis of the pivot bolt. The pivotally connected ends of the links H and I6 are clamped together in the desired position of relative angular adjustment by means of a wing or thumb nut 23 threaded on the pivot bolt i5 in position to bear against the link II. The fiat-sided head of the pivot bolt seats in a correspondingly shaped recess 2 3 in the link It and thus prevents rotation of said bolt in the two links pivotally connected thereby. The wing nut receiving end of the pivot bolt has a cap 25 riveted thereto beyond the wing nut, so as to prevent unauthorized removal of said nut from said bolt.

The pivot bolt receiving end of the link I! is provided with a circular series of studs or bosses 26 disposed concentric with the pivot bolt. These studs or bosses are adapted toseat snugly within a corresponding series of recesses or pockets 21 in the opposing or contacting face of the pivot bolt receiving end of the link l6, whereby the two pivotally connected links are adapted to be locked together in diiferent positions of relative angular adjustment when said links are clamped together by the wing nut 23.

By the arrangement described, free ingress and egress may be permitted for normal daytime use of the door by swinging the panic bar 6 downwardly far enough to release the latch bolt 3 and by then tightening the wing nut 23 to thereby lock the two links I l and it in the relative angular positions assumed thereby in such lock releasing position of said panic bar. This tightening of the wing nut clamps together the pivotally connected ends of the link i I and I6 and causes the bosses 25 on the link I! to seat in the recesses in the link It, whereby the two links are firmly interlocked together against relative rotary movement and thereby prevent the panic bar from swinging upwardly to lock releasing position. In this position of the parts, the panic bar is firmly secured in lock releasing position but may be readily released for emergency operation by loosening the thumb nut. To prevent such release, especially in daytime when free entry and exit is desired, the links may be positively locked together against unauthorized release by means of a padlock 28, the shackle 29 of which is passed through the single hole 22 in the link H and registering hole of the series of holes 2! in the link it. At night or other times when the building is closed, the securing device for the panic bar is released whereupon the panic bar swings upwardly and the latch bolt engages the keeper. During this movement of the panic bar the two links move relative to each other about the axis of the latch bolt and accommodate themselves to the raised position of said bar. The panic bar may be then secured in this raised position merely by tightening the thumb nut. In this position of the parts the panic bar is secured against surreptitious operation from the exterior side of the door, While permitting the door to be opened from the inside in case of emergency merely by loosening the thumb nut.

The hereinbefore described panic bar lock has several important advantages. It may be quickly and easily mounted on the door and attached to the panic bar, and is applicable to different panic bar mountings without any alteration thereof. It is also simple and economical and self adjustable and may be utilized to positively lock the panic bar in the lock releasing position thereof and to secure said bar in the position assumed thereby when the locking mechanism is in looking position.

Obviously, the construction hereinbefore described admits of considerable modification without departing from the invention. Therefore, I do not wish to be limited to the arrangement shown and described.

What I claim is:

1. Securing means for door lock panic bars comprising a link adapted at one end for pivotal connection with the door, a second link having one end pivotally secured to the outer end of said first mentioned link and adapted at its other end for pivotal connection with said panic bar, and means for securing said links together to prevent relative swinging movement thereof to thereby hold said panic bar in desired position.

2. Securing means for door lock panic bars comprising a link adapted at one end for pivotal connection with the door, a second link having one end pivotally secured to the outer end of said first mentioned link and adapted at its other end for'pivotal connection with said panic bar, the pivotal connection between said links comprising a pivot extending therethrough, and means adjustably engaging said pivot for clamping said links together to prevent relative swinging movement thereof to thereby hold said panic bar in desired position.

3. Securing means for door lock panic bars comprising a link, an anchor member for pivotally supporting one end of said link, said anchor member being adapted to be secured to the door, a second link having one end pivotally secured to the outer end of said first mentioned link and adapted at its other end for pivotal connection with said panic bar, the pivotal connection between said lihks comprising a bolt extending therethrough, and a nut threaded on said bolt for clamping said links together to prevent relative swinging movement thereof to thereby hold said panic bar in desired position.

4. Securing means for door lock panic bars comprising a link adapted at one end for pivotal connection with the door, a second link having one end pivotally secured to the outer end of said first mentioned link and adapted at its other end for pivotal connection with said panic bar, the pivotal connection between said links comprising a pivot extending therethrough, means adjustably engaging said pivot for clamping said links together to prevent relative swinging movement thereof to thereby hold said panic bar in desired position, and means for preventing the removal of said clamping means from said pivot.

5. Securing means for door lock panic bars comprising a link, an anchor member for pivotally supporting one end of said link, said anchor member being adapted to be secured to the door, a second link having one end pivotally secured to the outer end of said first mentioned link and adapted at its other end for pivotal connection with said panic bar, the pivotal connection between said links comprising a bolt extending therethrough, a thumb nut threaded on said bolt for clamping said links together to prevent relative swinging movement thereof to thereby hold said panic bar in desired position, and a cap permanently secured to the nut receiving end of said bolt for preventing the removal of said thumb nut from said bolt.

6. Securing means for door lock panic bars comprising a link adapted at one end for pivotal connection with the door, a second link having one end pivotally secured to the outer end of said first mentioned link and adapted at its other end for pivotal connection with said panic bar, the pivotal connection between said links comprising a pivot extending therethrough, means adjustably engaging said pivot for clamping said links together to prevent relative swinging movement thereof to thereby hold said panic bar in desired position, and a separate detachable locking device for positively locking said links together against relative movement.

7. Securing means for door lock panic bars comprising a link adapted at one end for pivotal connection with the door, a second link having one end pivotally secured to the outer end of said first mentioned link and adapted at its other end for pivotal connection with said panic bar, the pivotal connection between said links comprising a pivot extending therethrough, and means adjustably engaging said pivot for clamping said links together to prevent relativeswinging movement thereof to thereby hold said panic 8. Securing means for door lock panic bars of the swinging type comprising a link adapted 'at one end for pivotal connection with a door, a

means for securing said section in closed posi-r tion, and means for securing said links together to prevent relative swinging movement thereof to thereby hold said panic bar in desired position of its swinging movement.

FRED E. SPRADLIN'G. 

